The online shop, which is part of Android Market, functions like the iTunes store or Amazon. It allows users to share one free play of purchased songs with their friends on Google+, Google's social networking service. As The New York Times reports, Warner Music Group is the only major label that has not reached an agreement with Google Music to sell their catalog yet. As Billboard points out, Google Music also includes a service that allows independent artists to sell their music directly to customers.

Google Music allows users to store their music collections online, for free, and access them from any computer, as well as through Android devices, "without the hassle of wires or syncing." Users can upload 20,000 songs free of charge, in addition to Android Market purchases. Google Music will also offer personalized music recommendations as well as editorial content emphasizing music discovery.